There is a long-standing practice that all tax-collecting agencies participate in — it’s the over taxation of citizenry for the proverbial ‘rainy day.? Schools, cities, townships and villages all do it, just in case ‘something? happens.
And, while money sits in bank accounts, government boards, during ‘tough times,? make cuts to be fiscally ‘responsible.? It’s no different in our community.
In 2005, the Independence Township Parks and Recreation Department budget was about $262,000 short, so the township dipped into its fund balance to keep programs running. ‘Fund balance? is described by government officials as a ‘savings account,? or ‘rainy day fund? ? it’s what’s left over after the bills are paid. At that time, the amount taxpayer money sitting, unused, in the government coffers was about $2.1 million.
Fast forward to 2007: The township budget was passed without a fund-balance transfer to the Parks and Rec. As a result Deer Lake Beach was closed, special events, sports programs, senior center activities were cut. Then the township had a budget workshop and it was found Independence Township’s rainy day slush fund had grown $400,000 in two years to about $2.5 million.
First, we believe the township should have budget workshops before actually announcing cuts in programs. Second, dip into the ‘fund balance? and save as many of the parks programs as possible. That’s why governments hoard money in the first place, right?
At the budget meeting, one suggestion was to bring a millage to fund Parks and Rec before the voters. This is not a good idea. It is one more layer of government that the folks of this community haven’t needed in the past and don’t need in the future. The township obviously collects enough money to fund all the township’s operations. Why change it if it ain’t broke. Some will say it is broke because of political jockeying. We say, if that is the case, vote those political animals out of office.
The township board has approved all park purchases — they knew it would cost money to operate these parks. They have the money and they should keep them operating. This doesn’t mean give the department a blank check. The township needs to look at the administration of the parks. We believe it is too top heavy, savings can be made by trimming administrative costs that were not there a few years ago.
Oh, and when times are tough DO NOT give raises. A government job is not an automatic ticket down the yellow-brick road of cost-of-living wage increases. Bite the bullet, skip raises and trim the fat.
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As for a new senior center, the people have spoken. November’s ballot language was fairly clear: shall the township borrow up to $3.1 million for a new senior center, and should it increase taxes by 2/5 mill to fund it? By a 2-1 margin the answer was ‘No.?
That should settle the question of whether the township builds a new senior center. The current senior center in Clintonwood Park has been described as ‘crumbling? and ‘a lawsuit waiting to happen? almost from the time it was purchased in 1978.
If it is as unsafe as the township says, it should be closed immediately. It’s a financial liability the township doesn’t need. Which isn’t saying the township doesn’t need a senior center. It just means some creative thinking needs to happen. On page 1A this week we write about a private group of citizens pursuing a new center (read: creative thinking).
We applaud the Senior Center Extreme Makeover effort started by community activists. Tom Stone, Mel Vaara, and others are not in government ? they’re volunteers who are stepping up and doing something about what they see as a need for a new center.
Their idea is for a non-government funded facility. Their’s is for the people of the community to step up to make it happen. All they really need from the government is permission.
For this effort to have the best chance of success, it needs as much support as possible. That means the township supervisor needs to get on board, even if he wasn’t in the initial loop. This is America. Citizens can assemble and plan and scheme as they wish to better their community — with or without government’s permission and whether or not it is within prior protocol. This is not the time for any sort of power struggle or turf battle, if that is what this is.
The building being looked at now is offered by the school district, the former South Sashabaw Elementary School and Early Childhood Center on Maybee Road. One of the school district’s reasons for moving Early Childhood from that location into a new building was its poor condition.
No one is hiding the fact that this project would take a lot of work ? hence the title ‘Extreme Makeover? ? and ‘due diligence? has been promised by the subcommittee.
Cautions aside, this is how things should happen. If this site doesn’t work out, another could be investigated, until one is found.
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Back to ‘fund balance.? One thing the fund balance should not be used for is the back-door funding of voter-rejected projects. The township, and other governments, needs to avoid the temptation to view election results as temporary setbacks.
A proposal for a new township hall, along with community center, was placed before voters in 2002 ? it was defeated almost three-to-one. One of the designated-fund projects in the $2.5 million fund balance is a new township hall.
About 40 percent of taxes collected have been going there ? as Trustees Daniel Kelly and Charles Dunn have pointed out, this is too much.
These are taxes being collected for which there is no voter-approved need. Government needs to be as specific as possible when it comes to funding.
Collecting extra tax money ‘just in case? is an indication that government officials have lost sight of whose money it really is.